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The cricketing world went into mourning after news of former South African skipper Hansie Cronje’s death surfaced. The renowned cricketer met with an unfortunate plane crash, ending his life prematurely on this very day in 2002. He was travelling in the AirQuarius cargo flight that crashed on Cradock Peak in the Outeniqua mountain range.

Born in Bloemfontein, Hansie Cronje was a gifted athlete since his early days as he excelled in both cricket and rugby during his academic years. Hailing from a cricketing family, Cronje also joined his father and brother, playing first-class cricket for Orange Free State in 1988 and eventually leading the side a couple of years later at just 21 years of age.

Following his impressive stint in domestic cricket, he received his maiden national call-up in 1992. Cronje made his international debut in South Africa’s World Cup clash against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He was drafted into the Test side for the tour of the West Indies after South Africa’s World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak.

He was impressive in South Africa’s tri-series against Australia and Pakistan in 1994. The series turned out to be Kepler Wessels’ last assignment as the captain of the side, vacating the leadership role for Cronje, who had previously acted as his deputy.

South Africa found a new leg of life under his captaincy, especially in the longest format of the game. He became South Africa’s most successful Test captain at the time, winning 27 of the 53 Tests in which he captained. His personal form also improved during his stint as the captain of the side.

Only Australia’s Ricky Ponting and India’s MS Dhoni have racked up more wins in ODIs as captains. However, Cronje’s 73-ball 79 against Pakistan in the 1999–2000 Coca-Cola Cup final turned out to be his last match as he was implicated in a match-fixing scandal a week later. 

A lifetime ban was imposed on the South African cricketer after an enquiry by the King Commission. Even though his cricketing career met with a scandalous end, his tragic death has been referred to as one of the greatest losses in the cricketing fraternity, with Cronje still adorned as a hero in South Africa.